Obama Warns Hurricane Matthew Could Have 'Devastating Effect'

October 5, 2016

(WASHINGTON) — President Obama visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters Wednesday for a briefing from his homeland security team on the latest updates with Hurricane Matthew, which is currently barreling through the Caribbean and headed for Florida’s Atlantic Coast.

Matthew is “a serious storm,” Obama said and asked residents in the storm’s path to take evacuation orders seriously.

The president warned that the storm appeared to be building strength on its way to Florida and warned that winds on even the outskirts of the storm could have a “devastating effect” on many areas in southeastern states.

“You cannot restore life if it is lost,” Obama said. “This is something to take seriously. We hope for the best but we want to prepare for the worst.”